Matthew 11:5 says that the Servant of the Lord will not quarrel, will not seek recognition (not cry aloud or lift up his voice), and will treat with love the people who have been neglected by their leaders (a bruised reed he will not break, and so on). These prophecies are fulfilled in Jesus (Matthew 3:17; Matthew 3:17). In this Matthew echoes Jesus (Matthew 8:17).
Matthew cites the prophecy from Isaiah to explain the conduct of Jesus in fleeing from the Pharisees. The quotation of the prophecy in Matthew 12:17–21 links back to Matthew 12:15–16, where the strange combination of Jesus’ majesty and his deliberate withdrawal needs explanation.
This prophecy clearly shows that Jesus is the Messiah, for it comes from that section of Isaiah that clearly foretells his work, speaking of the great majesty of the Messiah, who is God’s Son and Servant, chosen and loved by him (Matthew 3:17), endowed with his Spirit (Matthew 12:19–20), and the One who will proclaim judgment (Matthew 12:19–20) to the Gentiles, making known both to the nations and to Israel what God’s justice and law entail, and how God punishes those who transgress them. It is a prophecy that Jesus has already begun to fulfill, though in its latter part it still awaits fulfillment (a fulfillment for which he is now preparing himself). And yet, he will not appear with royal splendour.
In Matthew 12:17 the evangelist cites the prophecy of Isaiah 42:1–4, which explains the conduct of Jesus. In that passage it is said, among other things, that the Servant of the Lord will not quarrel, will refrain from seeking recognition (not cry aloud or lift up his voice), and will treat with love the people who have been neglected by their leaders (a bruised reed he will not break, and so on). The prophecies concerning the Servant of the Lord are fulfilled in Jesus (cf. Matthew 3:17; Matthew 8:17). In this Matthew follows Jesus himself (see Matthew 11:5).1
Matthew cites the prophecy from Isaiah to try to elucidate this mysterious conduct of Jesus in fleeing from the Pharisees. The repetition of the prophecy in Matthew 12:17–21 ties directly to Matthew 12:15–16, where the striking combination of Jesus’ great majesty and his deliberate withdrawal demands explanation.2
This prophecy in particular was especially fitting to provide the necessary proof that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, for it is taken from that section of Isaiah that so clearly foretells his work. It speaks first of the great majesty of the Messiah, who is God’s Son and Servant, chosen and loved by him (Matthew 3:17), endowed with his Spirit (Matthew 3:17), and as the One who will proclaim judgment (John 3:34) to the Gentiles—that is, he will make known to the nations, not only to Israel, what God’s justice and law truly entail, and how God punishes those who transgress them. It is a prophecy that Jesus had already begun to fulfill, though in its latter part it still awaited fulfillment (a fulfillment for which he was now preparing himself). And yet, he would not appear with royal splendour.3
17 afin que s'accomplisse ce qui avait été annoncé par Esaïe, le prophète: